Key controlled cylinder lock



, Feb. 7, 1956 D. R. CRUMB K 2,733,590

KEY CONTROLLED CYLINDERWLOCK' Filed Feb. 4, 1953 1Q 57 (D O ll r i 2 2 i-r j; 46 94+ 45 1'06 at J 57 w 6%.

f w x INVENTOR. DUANE E. CeuMB A TTOENE vs United States Patent KEY CONTROLLED CYLINDER LOCK Duane R. Crumb, Webster, N. Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Micln, a corporation of Delaware Application February 4, 1953, Serial No. 335,027

' Claims. (Cl. 70-367) This invention deals with a pin tumbler type lock of such design as to give a large number of combinations by the use of a few code trains, and to create such lock as will be extremely difiicult to pick.

A mounting sleeve has a plurality of external ribs which are drilled transverse to a central bore to provide housing means for a plurality of spring pressed plungers in circumferentially spaced groups which cooperate with similar spaced sets of tumblers carried by a cylinder for coaction with similarly spaced code trains of a proper key so as to control the movement of the cylinder within a sleeve. Code trains afforded by a proper key and circumferentially spaced to register with the tumblers and plungers, may consist of facets, notches or recesses in groups or rows which, when the key is in proper relation with the cylinder, permit relative movement between the sleeve and cylinder so that the lock controlled device may be actuated. In this instance, the tumblers are placed in three groups of three each, each plunger of each group being urged into an axial passage or key-way of polygonal form, here triangular. The groups are radially positioned and may be circumferentially spaced 90 or 120 on both sides of top center. The tumbler receiving portion of the cylinder is maintained in axial register with-.

in the sleeve by means of a flanged cap on the head portion engaging one end of the cylinder, and by a cross pin lodged in the sleeve and protruding into a groove near the tail portion of the cylinder. Though the cross section of the key and key-way may be of triangular form, orien tation means are provided such that there is only a oneway relation between a controlling key and the lock cylinder.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of an improved key control lock.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of a sectional view substantially as indicated by lines and arrows 22 of Figs. 1 and 4.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation as indicated by the arrow 3 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a front end elevational View as indicated by the arrow 4 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional View as indicated by the line and arrow 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a key.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view substantially as indicated by the line and arrow 7--7 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is similar sectional view of a modified form of the key.

Referring specifically to the drawing, 10 relates to a mounting sleeve having a plurality of external ribs 12, 14 and 16 circumferentially spaced 120, which ribs provide radial bores 18 extending inward to open into a bore 20 of the sleeve, in which bore is rotatably mounted a lock cylinder 22. As shown in Fig. 2, the lock cylinder 22 comprises a tumbler portion 24 separated by an annular groove or channel 26 from the head portion 28, and separated from the tail portion 30 by a peripheral groove 32.

in the tumbler portion 24 of the lock cylinder there is a plurality of sets of stepped bores 34 extending radially inward to open into a key-way 36 extending axially of the head portion 28 and the tumbler portion 24. These groups of stepped bores are circumferentially spaced to register radially with the bores 18 of the ribs 12, 14 and 16 so that in the locked position, tumblers 38 and plungers 40 are projected radially inward by springs 42 secured in the bores 18 by plates 44. When the key is in place and properly oriented with respect to the key-way 36, code trains operate upon the plungers 38 to compress the springs until the parting lines between the plungers 40 and tumblers 38 are coincident or register with the bore 20 of the sleeve. In the locked or restrained position, the plungers 40 extend partially into the radial bores 18 and 34 of the sleeve and cylinder respectively. That prevents either relative rotation or axial movement between the cylinder and the sleeve.

When the cooperating key is properly oriented, the code trains operating upon the plungers 38 permit relative rotation between the sleeve and cylinder for actuating a bar or bolt 46 secured by a cross pin 48 to the tail por-- tion 30 of the lock cylinder. The lock cylinder is maintained in axial relation with the sleevelt) by means of a cap 59 enclosing .the head portion 28 of the cylinder, where it is secured by a tongue 52 struck radially inward to project into the peripheral grooves 26 separating the head portion from the tumbler portion. Rotation of the cap on the head portionis prevented by an axially extending tongue 54 extending into a notch 56 in the tumbler portion of the lock cylinder. Thatleaves semi-circular flanges 57 extending at right angles to the cap which are engaged by the front end of the mounting sleeve 14), and positions the peripheral groove 32 of the cylinder a short distance within the back end of the sleeve, in substantial register with a pocket 58 in the rear end of the sleeve 10. Through one end of the side wall 60 surrounding the pocket 58 there is a drilled hole 62 that is aligned with a notch 64 in the opposite end wall 66 of the pocket. These provisions 62 and 64 are in register with the groove 32 of the lock barrel so that a pin 67 may be inserted in the hole 62 and the other end rests in the notch 64 while an intermediate portion 68 lays within the groove 32 in cord fashion, there being a loop or bend 76 projecting into a depression 72 at' the bottom of said groove. The pin 6' has a right angular bend 73 that lies within a branch 74 of the notch 64 where it is secured by staking of the metal of the sleeve at 76 somewhat as shown in Fig. 3.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 4, the head portion 23 is re cessed at 80 from the front end so as to open into the key-way 36 and provide a pair of cheek portions 82 and $4 on opposite sides of notches 86 and 88. At the front end of the cheeks 82 and 84, notches 9th and 92 receive opposite ends of a hinge pin 94 forming a pivot for a shutter 96 urged by spring 98 to close a keyhole 100 in the end of the cap 50 enclosing the head portion. The hinge pin 94 is secured in position by staking the metal against the hinge pin as shown at 102. Along the bottom rung of the head portion, a longitudinal groove 104 extends from the notch 88 into a notch 106 in the tumbler portion of the lock cylinder where it communicates with a notch 108 in the forward end of the mounting sleeve 10 to provide drainage of moisture within the front end of the lock assembly.

' ing an orientation notch 110" so that the code trains will.

have toengage the proper sets of tumblers 38; In Figs- 6 and 7' is shown a keyv 112" that has-a shank portion 114 and a coding portion 116. The coding portion 116 is triangmlar in cross. section as shown in Fig. 7. The angular ribs or fins 118', 120' and 122 may be said to radiate from a common center and each provide a code train somewhat as shown in Fig. 6, where the fin or rib 118 is cutaway at different levels as at 124 and 126 forming facets or seats adapted to mate up with the tumblers 38 in the tumbler portion of the cylinder. Each rib or fin may provide a different sequence of cut-away portions for proper actuation of. the tumblers of the respective sets. Thus, when the key is inserted in the lock, the shank 114 seats within. the recess at 110, demanding that the key be inserted in one. relation only, and provides abutments receiving the driving force of the key when the lock cylinder is turned, thereby relieving the coding portion of the key, from any strain due to rotative movement. In Fig. 8 a modified form of the coding portion of a key has been shown, as of T-form in section rather than triangular. Here the radiatingportions 130, 132 and 134 provide for the code trains to operate the lock tumblers, of a different circumferential spacing. In this form, the sets of tumblers and plungers aligned with the fins 132', 134 would have a circumferential spacing from the fin 130 of not less than 90 or one right angle.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a key operated lock, the combination of a mounting sleeve having a central bore, a lock cylinder having a tumbler portion rotatable in the sleeve, a head portion and a tail portion at opposite ends of the tumbler portion, a peripheral groove in the lock cylinder at the juncture of the head portion and the tumbler portion, a cap enclosing the head portion and having a mutilated flange abutting one end of said sleeve, a tongue on said cap projecting into a notch on said tumbler portion preventing relative rotation between the cap and lock cylinder, a second tongue 4 of the cup being depressed into the peripheral groove preventing relative axial movement of the cap and" cylinder, and a key-way opening thrdugh the head portion to the axis of said tumbler portion.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the head portion pivotally supports a shutter for closing the key-way through the endof said: cap.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1, wherein the head portion provides a longitudinal groove at the bottom thereof for drainage, and a shutter for closing the key opening through said cap transversely of the head'portion.

4. In a key operated lock, the combination of a mounting sleeve having a central bore, a lock cylinder having a tumbler portion rotatable in the sleeve, a head portion and a tail portion at opposite ends of the tumbler portion, peripheral grooves at opposite ends of the tumbler portion separating it from the head portion and the tail portion, a cap for the headportion having tongues received by a notch and: groove of the tumbler portion preventing relative movement between the cylinder and cap, said cap having flanged portions abutting one end of said sleeve, and a cross pin secured in said sleeve and having an intermediate portion disposed in the annular groove of the cylinder between the tumbler portion and tail portion to prevent removal of the cylinder from the sleeve.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein one end of the cross pin has a right angle bend disposed in a groove of the sleeve and is secured therein by staking adjacent portions of the sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 977,085 Eras Nov. 29, 1910 1,463,495 Borelli July 31, 1923 1,489,815 Brosin Apr. 8, 1924 1,905,177 Kirkwood Apr. 25, 1933 1,968,555 Home July 31, 1934 2,012,996 Jacobi Sept. 3, 1935 2,166,690 Neckerman July 18, 1939 2,197,673 Albertz Apr. 16, 1940 2,680,965 Jacobi June 15, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 188,570 Switzerland Apr. 1, 1937 410,678 Italy Apr. 20, 1945 

